Paying for Care

For the first time at this scale, Medicaid coverage for many adults will be tied to documenting work or other qualifying activities. AcademyHealth examines what the evidence shows about coverage loss, employment effects, administrative burden, and the tradeoffs policymakers face as states prepare to implement the new requirement.

Medicaid work requirements set by HR 1 take effect on January 1, 2027, with exceptions for beneficiaries considered medically frail. A recent JAMA Health Forum paper authored by Medicaid Medical Directors outlines crucial clinical considerations for states implementing these exemptions.

The 340B drug pricing program moves $81 billion a year in discounts to safety-net providers -- but fierce disagreement continues over whether that money reaches the patients Congress intended it to help. AcademyHealth breaks down what the research shows, where the evidence runs out, and what to watch as Congress debates reform.

Millions of insured Americans are struggling to afford the care they're already paying for. A major new proposal would ban prior authorization, cap hospital prices, and limit insurer profits. AcademyHealth breaks down what the evidence actually supports.

This environmental scan highlights how hospitals are addressing medical debt, identifies key gaps in evidence and reporting, and outlines strategies and opportunities for a more just and patient‑centered financial landscape.

Postpartum uninsurance decreased among Black women in non-expansion states
after continuous coverage, but racial inequities persisted.

AcademyHealth member and research champion Miranda Yaver highlights the impact of insurance claim denials on Americans and the value of making sure your research is communicated to everyday people.

This policy brief by Emma Mairson from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and AcademyHealth’s Project DREAM describes six state efforts to create a doula benefit in Medicaid.

As our blog series has highlighted, the removal of public health data has impeded research and has serious implications for the scientific enterprise. In response, several crowdsourcing efforts have emerged in an imperfect effort to fill the gap.